Can Catholics Be Cremated? The Rules Most Catholics Don’t Know

Description

Can Catholics be cremated? Yes—but the Catholic Church places important conditions on cremation and the treatment of cremated remains. Although burial of the body remains the Church's preferred practice, cremation is permitted provided it is not chosen for reasons contrary to Christian teaching. But cremated remains aren't ordinary possessions. The Church teaches that they should be treated with reverence and ordinarily laid to rest in a permanent sacred place, such as a cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium—not scattered, divided among relatives, or casually kept at home. Why? Because Catholic funeral practices express one of the central promises of Christianity: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” Death does not make the human body meaningless. We bury our dead in hope of the Resurrection. Subscribe to Catholic Voices and Prayers for daily Catholic truth, traditional devotions, the Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Saint Michael Chaplet, and prayers for the faithful departed.